You love writing. You dream to be a published writer. You dream of seeing your name in reputed newspapers and magazines. Or to become a best-selling author, expecting a handsome cash flow in your account. You work hard but get only rejections. You get depressed and start thinking that you can’t make it. A question keeps creeping in your mind – why? What went wrong?

Here are some reasons or reminders!

Not writing enough

The prime job of a writer is to write. Not just procrastinating, waiting for the ideas, or dreaming about getting published. Your dreams demand action. So if you want to be a published writer, write. If you are a freelance writer you won’t get assignments until you pitch your ideas. Do not wait for the response once you have pitched your query. Refreshing your inbox every two minutes won’t change anything. Forget that query and write something else.

If you want to be a novelist you need to start (and finish) your first draft.

The beginning of anything is tough, but once you dare to take your first step, things start to fall into place. As a writer, you are never short on ideas. You just need to sit down and write.

Being afraid of failure

Being prejudiced is one of the biggest hurdles in the path of success. Don’t think about failure before trying, trying really hard. Try different ways. If you try, you have two options. Either you succeed or you fail. But, if you don’t even try, you have no option. You fail.

So, don’t hesitate to write and pitch your ideas.

Taking rejections personally

Writing is not about nurturing your ego. Never ever take rejections personally. If you do that, you are most likely to give up. There could be many reasons for rejections. It’s not necessarily your fault. Rejections don’t mean you are inept. Getting rejected doesn’t mean you have been dismissed as a writer.

Rejection is an integral part of any business, a stepping stone to your success. Learn from them and move ahead.

Expecting instant success

Instant success is a rare phenomenon. It takes a great deal of perseverance to achieve success. Keep trying and don’t give up. Time and practice bring excellence. Excellence brings success. Give yourself some time and be patient.

Procrastinating

You think you have no time for writing? Have you ever thought how much time you waste procrastinating? Always making excuses – family, children, etc.

If you love to do something, you manage your time (for parties, get-togethers, movies etc, then why not for writing? Choose an uninterrupted time for writing. Make sure you don’t squander it.

Getting addicted to the internet

Another huge obstacle! You won’t get time to write if you are an internet addict. You end up interacting/responding on social media and searching/browsing through sites you find interesting. Please restrict your online availability/time. You are least likely to succeed as a writer if you are addicted to the internet. Period.

Not reading enough

You cannot be a good writer if you are not a good reader. You need to read to learn, gain experience and understand the market. Read good books/senior authors to understand the craft. If you are a freelance writer, read the newspapers and magazines before pitching to them.